by Justin Chryster

With the spring sun baking down on Barbury Racecourse, and the clearest, bluest sky that this year had borne witness too so far, the setting for the first Preliminary Races for the 1999 Marlborough Cup could not have been more perfect.

Rupert Nuttall and Harry Wellstead with Harwell Lad

The first division fell to the 1997 Whitbread Gold Cup winner Harwell Lad ridden by Chris Maude. Now trained by Rupert Nuttall, his regular pilot during his career under rules, the 10 year old Over The River gelding travelled well throughout and appeared to seriously enjoy his return to the fray. Despite getting a bit close at a couple of fences his re-introduction to timber was more than pleasing, having previously finished second to Enda Bolger's Fiftsevenchannels in a 1997 Preliminary Race. The class horse in the race, he still needed to find that extra gear to pull away from the admirable Perry's Pearl over the final two fences. As far as the art of jumping timber goes, Perry's Pearl is most definitely the Pele of his generation. Regularly team chased by his trainer/jockey Yvonne Goss he finished in the money (5th place) in last year's Marlborough Cup. To see this horse jump timber is something to behold, he doesn't just respect his fences, he seems to worship them. There is no doubt that he will be lining up for this year's renewal. Immediately following Harwell Lad's victory he was cut 4 points in the betting (10-1 to 6-1) for The Marlborough Cup by Des Gleeson. Observing the winner's enclosure after the race you couldn't help but wonder whether Rupert Nuttall would be coming out of retirement for the main event, and to be honest you half suspect he will.

Tellaporky wining the second division

The second division was won by Tellaporky, a recent purchase by point-to-point trainer Herbie Owen. Catalogued as part of the Russell Farm Stables dispersal at the Doncaster Lincoln Handicap Sale the gelding, who was subsequently withdrawn from the sale, put in a decent effort under James Owen and a return for The Marlborough Cup is a firm proposition according to his jockey. Harwell Lad's connections are very much looking at the bigger picture though, and a tilt at The Marlborough Million in the year 2000 would appear to be the ultimate aim.

The four race series incorporates two timber races (The Marlborough Cup and Virginia Gold Cup) and two cross-country races (The Punchestown Cup and Le Grand Cros de Craon), the most challenging form of racing, and is only open to the best and most experienced International horses and jockeys. The prize money for the series is calculated on a point basis - 4 points for a win, 2 points for a second, and 1 point for a third. Points need not all be gained in a calendar year, but within any 12 month period. For winning each race in the series (16 points) £1,000,000 will be awarded; for 3 wins and 1 second (14 points) £500,000 will be won; 3 wins and 1 third (13 points) attracts prize-money of £300,000, and 3 wins or 2 wins and 2 seconds (12 points) £200,000. Any horse that completes all of the races in the series automatically earns £5,000.

For this year, as a taster of what is to come, a Three-Nation Challenge has been established encompassing The Marlborough Cup, Le Grand Cros de Craon and The Punchestown Cup, with generous bonuses up for grabs - a £30,000 bonus for winning The Marlborough Cup and either of the other two races, and a £100,000 bonus for winning all three races. If you were looking for someone to pull off such a feat you would make Rupert Nuttall a very short priced favourite. Team Nuttall are more than prepared to set out and conquer Europe this year, and in the millennium to conquer the world.

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